Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-03-09
WHAT HAS TO BE MET.

A prominent Saint, who has long been
an officer of Box Elder County, makes no
secret of the intentions of the Mormons
in regard to the test oath matter. On
the day of the election at Brigham City
he tauntingly remarked to Gentle as
follows: ''Of course We will take the
oath. At least enough Of us will
take it to carry the elections. If
but a fifth of us are necessary to
insure success twenty per cent of the
Mormons will take the oath, register and
vote. If fifty per cent are needed, that
proportion will qualify, and if one nun
dred per cent are required, the entire
Mormon population will put in an appear
ance at the polls. When Dane, who
scarcely understood a word of the
English language was being questioned
by the judges OF election, the Gentle
above mentioned remarked to the officer
TO whom We have alluded: Didn't you
consider that an outrage? That man does
not understand a word what is being said
to him." The God-fearing Saint with
sardonic smile, replied: "Oh that
makes no difference. He will answer
Eyes, all the same'' The result verified
the Sanity prediction. Well known and
prominent Mormons answered, when
they supposed they were being officially
questioned, that they had never taken
any oath which obliged them to obey an
order of the head of the Church
in preference to the Constitution or
laws of the United States They unhesi-
tatingly replied that they would obey the
laws in opposition to a mandate of the
President of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. One well-known
Saint denied emphatically that he
was a member of the organization
known as the Mormon Church. Upon
being further questioned he said: "The
Government of the United States
has abolished the Mormon Church. How
can [ be a member of an organization
which has no existence?" The above is
sufficient to prove that the Mormons are
prepared to swallow anything in the
shape of oaths, assertions or denials
which may be necessary to enable them
to continue for their leaders their political
supremacy in this Territory. 1t clearly
shows that no oath which could
be formulated would suffice to effect
the redemption of Utah by trans
ferring the political power from dis
loyal to loyal hands. 1t demonstrates
beyond preadventure the wisdom of the
Democratic House of Congress in striking
at the root of the evil, by wrestling at
once, and without circumlocutional nom
sense, the local government of Utah
from those who use it to sustain
an institution antagonistic in every
respect to the principles upon which our
Republic was founded. 1t expresses the
ignorance or treachery of the element
which caused the elimination OF the
appointive clause in the Tucker bill,
and the hollowness of the loyal pro-
fessions of the apologists for the infamous
work. 1t proves the necessity for such
political organization in Utah as will
bring to the front the truly patriotic and
unselfsh men OF both parties, who will
exercise their influence unitedly
to offset the locust and treacher-
GUS Vaccinations of the few who would
prostitute the loyal sentiment here to
their own selfish purposes. In the mean
time it is the duty of ali true Americans
to make the best possible use of the new
law. No means should be ignored which
will tend to increase the chances for sue
cess. Let us make the best fight We can
under its provisions, and should we fail
we will at least have proven our good
faith, and demonstrated the necessity for
such legislation as was offered us by the
Democratic House.